Tuesday, July 27, 2004

A Few Brief Points About Teresa's Speech

Is it?Is it, really? Apparently, it's still Teresa Heinz, but she'll pretend and claim otherwise for political expediency.

To me, one of the best faces America has ever projected is the face of a Peace Corps volunteer. That face symbolizes this country: young, curious, brimming with idealism and hope, and a real, honest compassion. Those young people convey an idea of America that is all about heart and creativity, generosity and confidence, a practical, can-do sense and a big, big smile.

For many generations of people around the globe, that is what America has represented. A symbol of hope, a beacon brightly lit by the optimism of its people -- people coming from all over the world.

I would counter that, for many generations in Europe, northern Africa, southeast Asia and a great many islands in the Pacific, a better face of America would be a soldier, bravely struggling to bring freedom while generously handing out a chocolate bar.

John believes in a bright future. He believes we can, and we will, invent the technologies, new materials, and conservation methods of the future. He believes that alternative fuels will guarantee that not only will no American boy or girl go to war because of our dependence on foreign oil, but also that our economy will forever become independent of this need.

Translation: no blood for oil.

Also, it seems rather naive to say that reducing America's need for foreign oil will automatically reduce oil's importance on the geopolitical stage to the extent that our military can be guaranteed it will never be embroiled in the conflicts of oil-producing states.

John is a fighter. He earned his medals the old-fashioned way, by putting his life on the line for his country.

Did you know Kerry was in Viet Nam?

But he also knows the importance of getting it right. For him, the names of too many friends inscribed in the cold stone of the Vietnam Memorial testify to the awful toll exacted by leaders who mistake stubbornness for strength.

Did you know Kerry was in Viet Nam?

No one will defend this nation more vigorously than he will -- and he will always be first in the line of fire.

4 Comments:

Men like Kerry, Cleland, and Inouye have more courage in their little finger than you have in your whole soul. They have stood straight up under heavy enemy fire and saved the lives of fellow American soldiers. I pity cowards like you who gutlessly question their courage and their patriotism. You are not fit to wear the uniform of my beloved country. You are a traitor to everything this country stands for.

Wow - the second Anonymous was quite the ass. I guess he doesn't like to think about Republicans like Bob Dole, whom was horribly wounded in combat while trying to help save the life of another wounded soldier. He wasn't even expected to live. Or George Bush (41) who, although his aircraft was horribly damaged, managed to complete the bombing run (and his mission) that he was on before bailing out. Or how about John McCain, shot down and made a resident of the Haoni Hilton. Or Wayne Gilchrest, who took a wound to the chest in Vietnam. Or Randy Cunningham who was nominated for the Medal of Honor, received the Navy Cross, two Silver Stars, fifteen Air Medals, the Purple Heart, and several other decorations.

About Me

Okay, so it's an old photo from 1990. Welcome to Target Centermass. My name's Dave Wylie and, if I look angry in the photo, it's probably because I'd just learned that I had to pay for that Ft. Knox 30-seconds-and-it's-all-gone first haircut.

I enlisted as a tank crewman into the Texas Army National Guard in 1990 while attending Texas A&M. I graduated from A&M in 1993 and left the military (for now) in 1999. In the areas of politics and journalism, I have been involved in some campaigns at the grassroots level, interned on Capitol Hill and contributed to several trivial publications in a variety of areas of interest through the years. Unrelated to all of this, I'm currently working in the software field in the Dallas area.

Target Centermass is my place for commenting on politics and current events, all with an openly libertarian/conservative, hawkish tint. I'm rarely timely, but will post on items I feel deserve more attention or about which I have a strong opinion. I reserve the right to post about anything I damn well please. All views expressed are strictly my own unless otherwise specified.